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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - North America and Israel, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌎️

If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.

Let's delve into the core sections of our weekly newsletter:

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• AI startup xAI has launched a new API offering access to its Grok model, aiming to leverage data from Elon Musk's companies.

• Anthropic has released an upgraded Claude 3.5 Sonnet model that can control PC applications by simulating user actions.

• The FAA has approved new rules for eVTOL aircraft to integrate into U.S. airspace, facilitating the commercial launch of air taxi networks.

• Over 11,500 creatives signed a petition against unlicensed AI data scraping, asserting it threatens artists’ livelihoods.

• OpenAI has hired Aaron Chatterji as its first chief economist and Scott Schools as its chief compliance officer.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Waymo has closed a $5.6 billion Series C funding round led by Alphabet, with participation from major venture firms.

• Seaport Therapeutics has closed a $225 million Series B round led by General Atlantic to advance its pipeline of neuropsychiatric medicines.

• Procurement startup Zip has raised $190 million in a Series D round led by Bond, boosting its valuation to $2.2 billion.

• AvenCell Therapeutics has raised $112 million in Series B funding led by Novo Holdings to advance its universal switchable CAR-T cell therapy platform.

• Nimble has secured $106 million in Series C funding led by FedEx, achieving a $1 billion valuation to scale its e-commerce fulfillment technology.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Septerna has successfully raised $288 million in its IPO by pricing shares at $18 each as it trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker “SEPN.”

• Joby Aviation has initiated a public offering to raise $200 million to support its certification and manufacturing processes ahead of a 2025 launch.

• Insignia Capital Group has acquired podcast advertising agencies Veritone One for $104 million and Oxford Road.

• Modifi Biosciences has been acquired by Merck for $30 million upfront, with potential milestone payments of up to $1.3 billion.

• FLYHT Aerospace Solutions has agreed to be acquired by Firan Technology Group in a transaction valued at approximately $9.5 million.

🏦 About Investors

• General Catalyst has raised $8 billion to invest in early-stage startups globally, focusing on AI, healthcare, and climate tech.

• New VC firm Chemistry has raised $350 million for its inaugural fund, led by former partners from Index Ventures, A16z, and Bessemer.

• The NAACP has launched a $200 million fund of funds aimed at supporting fund managers who address issues affecting people of color.

• Benchmark Partners is raising $170 million for a new fund, mainly sourced from its partners.

• Andreessen Horowitz has launched its Oxygen program to provide its startups access to Nvidia GPUs without lengthy contracts or high market rates.

📈 Deep Dive Bites

Discover the vibrant venture capital landscape of Massachusetts, where top VC firms fuel startup success across tech, healthcare, and life sciences. From early-stage backing to large-scale exits, these firms provide critical funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance to the region’s most innovative companies. Explore the full article to uncover the complete list of these industry shapers and how they continue to bolster Massachusetts' standing as a premier entrepreneurial hub.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Waymo

Waymo is a leading autonomous driving technology company based in Mountain View, California, originally part of Google's self-driving car project. Rebranded in 2016, Waymo aims to develop fully autonomous vehicles that navigate urban environments without human intervention. The company operates its Waymo One ride-hailing service in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, and recently secured $5.6 billion in funding, bringing its total to $11.1 billion. This investment, primarily from parent company Alphabet, will support its expansion into Austin and Atlanta and further the development of its autonomous driving systems for various commercial applications.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

General Catalyst

General Catalyst has raised approximately $8 billion in new capital to bolster its investment strategies across applied AI, healthcare, climate solutions, and more. This funding is divided into several strategic areas, with $4.5 billion allocated for core venture capital and $1.5 billion for incubating new ventures. The firm aims to support ambitious founders and foster transformative companies through innovative funding approaches and initiatives like the GC Institute, which connects startups with public sector bodies. This comprehensive strategy positions General Catalyst as a significant player in addressing global challenges and driving innovation across critical industries.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call For Applications: Tulsa Techstars Accelerator

Apply to the Build in Tulsa Techstars Accelerator by Nov 20, 2024, to bring your startup vision to life with world-class support in an industry-agnostic, in-person program. This unique accelerator focuses on empowering underrepresented founders, offering up to $120,000 in funding, a vast investor network, and hands-on mentorship. Starting March 10, 2025, the program will guide founders through crucial aspects of building a successful business—from product-market fit and pitching to growth strategies and hiring. Don’t miss the chance to join the legacy of entrepreneurship in Tulsa.